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Snake Bight Pole and Troll Zone

Everglades National Park Superintendent Dan Kimball announced that the opening of the seasonal extension of the Jimmy’s Lake idle-speed area will begin onJuly 15, 2013. This area expands theexisting Jimmy’s Lake area which begins at Tin Can Channel and goes north for nearly 1 mile. With this seasonal change, the idle-speed extension area will continue north for an additional quarter mile, while maintaining the same 1000 foot width. The area is delineated by signs at the end of the current northern boundary of Jimmy’s Lake and three buoys at the end of the idle-speed extension area.

The decision was based on public input from many that know Florida Bay extremely well, and additional site assessments conducted by park staff. The extension area will be open fromJuly 15 through October 31, taking into account historic high summer water levels in the area. SuperintendentKimball calls this “a great example of how knowledgeable park users and park managers can work together for the protection and enjoyment of Everglades National Park. We have been able toidentify a way to provide additional access, while also ensuring that the natural and wilderness resources in the area remain protected. We look forward to getting feedback this summer on what visitors think about this change.”

Background

The 9,400-acre Snake Bight Pole and Troll Zone initially opened in January, 2011, and was established to provide enhanced protection of Snake Bight’s sensitive aquatic vegetation and wilderness resources, improve the quality of flats fishing, enhance paddling and wildlife viewing opportunities, and expand education on proper shallow water boating techniques.Funding for the implementation and scientific assessment of the project (which is ongoing) was provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Flamingo Friendly Fishing Tournament, the South Florida National Parks Trust, as well as the Herman Lucerne Memorial Foundation.

For more project information go tothe project page on the National Park Service’s Planning, Environment & Public Comment (PEPC) website by clickinghere.

The baseline data presented in this report represents the state of prop scarring immediately prior to implementation of the PTZ within Snake Bight. These 2011 data will be compared to future monitoring events in order to determine the effectiveness of a PTZ as a management strategy within ENP.